Other qualifications

Other universities

Have you applied to other universities you consider very close, ‘on par’ or even better than oxbridge? (Ivies, Sorbonne, LSE..others for different subjects) no

Decisions about the application

For what reasons did you apply to Oxbridge?

Reputation

How did you decide between Oxford and Cambridge?

Cambridge has a better reputation in chemical engineering and sciences. It also gave me the option of doing the first year in natural sciences.

Why did you choose this course?

I’m interested in the application of physics, chemistry and maths to solve practical problems

Why did you choose this college/make an open application?

I sent an open application because I wasn’t sure which college to choose.

Preparation

Did your school/college give you any extra tuition or help prior to your interview or application? no

No, I had already graduated from high school when I applied.

Do you have any advice for future applicants in terms of preparation?

Ensure that you revise your A-level syllabus thoroughly. That’s what slipped me up. Read around your subject as well-know about any current/outstanding events.

Interview

Did you have to sit any pre-interview exams (LNAT/BMAT/..)? no

Did you have to submit any written work prior to the interview? no

We had to fill out a form stting whether

Did you have to take any exams as part of your interview(s)? no

Please comment further on any particular aspects/topics of your interview(s).

The interviewers were very very friendly and easy going. They tried really hard to make me feel comfortable and at ease.

What questions were you asked during your interview(s)?

I had 2subject interviews. The irst one was chemistry based. I was asked why I chose to do chemical engineering. Then he asked me what was a scenario when chemical engineering was applied to solve a practical problem. I spoke about the Haber Process so he asked me to write the formula for the reaction and explain what the reaction conditions were and why they were so.
The other part was a few questions on organic chemistry and then I had to calculate the density of an atom of sodium chloride. He helped me along with the calculations
though.

The second interview involved physics and maths. He actually asked me what my favorite topics in physics were, then asked me questions on those topics-dynamics, centripetal forces. I had to determine an expression for the relationship between the distance between cars driving along a street into a city, and the amount of cars entering the city per second. Then I had to draw graphs to illustrate it.
The maths part was some integration and differentiation.
He also asked some general questions about my personal statement etc.

What did you wear to your interview(s), and why?

I wore a long sleeved sweater and black slacks with heels- because I wanted to feel comfortable but not look too casual.

Impressions

What was your general impression of the college that you applied to/any others you visited?

The surroundings were really beautiful, everyone seemed very friendly and welcoming.

If seen, please describe the college accommodation eg. size of rooms, facilities.

The room was quite spacious with a bath and toilet en suite. I found out later that those rooms were the best in the college.

How was the food provided by the college?

Really great- a wide variety, quite tasty

How did you find the tutors in the college?

Very friendly, lovely

Generally, what were the college students like (from what you saw of them)?

There seemed to be a family culture. They were friendly and chatty.

Final stage

Please describe your feelings during the time you waited for the decision.

I had a feeling of dread which began right after I had completed my interviews. I felt as if I had messed them up pretty badly so my hopes were not too high 🙁

Please describe what happened when you received the letter/the call telling you whether you had a place or not.

I saw it on UCAS first..I was depressed for the entire day and only told a few close friends. The letter came in the post about a week later-then I told my parents.

Looking back

If you were to re-live that year of your life again, would you still apply?

Yes I would. It was a great experience and I got a chance to visit England for the first time.

What advice do you have for potential applicants based on your experiences?

Ensure that you revise your syllabus well. Don’t psych out yourself about it too much, just enjoy the experience!

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